Telephone selecting device



v PATENTED, FEB. 23, 1904. w W. =11. IBWATKINS. TELEPHONE SELECTINGDEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED we. 29; 1902. 30 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEETL No. 753,183. 'PATENTED EEEQE, 1904.

v W. D.,WATKINS.

TELEPHONE SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 29. 199?.

'xo HODEL. z sHEETs-snEE'r 2.

UNITED V STATES Y Patented February 23, 1904.;

PAT NT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D; WATKINS, or SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ssIeNon TO WATKINS.IvIANUFAcTUnINe COMPANY,

OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

TELEPHONE SELECTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,183, dated February23, 1904. Application filed August 29, 1902. Serial No. 121,531. (Nomodel.)

To all whmn zit-may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. WATKINS); a citizen of the United States,residing atSan' Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and use;

devices for use on party-lines where it is desired to ring the call-bellof a selected subscriber without ringing any of the remaining bells onthe line. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide a selectivesignaling mechanism having a normally locked bell-clapper rod and inwhich a polarized armature is disposed at one end of a pair ofelectromagnets and carries the hell-clapper, while a soft-iron armatureat the opposite end of said magnets controls the movement of theclapper-locking mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide anovel form ofsupporting-frame for carrying the electromagnets and the several membersof the selecting device.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in-the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustratedin the accompanying draw ings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportions, size, and minor details ofconstruction may be madewithout'departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone selectingdvice construct ed in accordance with my invention, one of theelectromagnets and the permanent magnet being removed in order to morefully illustrate the construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theappartus. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. i is adetailperspective view of the supporting-frame detached. Figs. 5 and 6 aredetached perspective views of structural details more specificallyreferred to hereinafter.

' the soft-iron armature Similar numerals of reference are employed toindicate corresponding parts throughout. the several figures of thedrawings.

The main supporting-frame of the device is formed from a die-cut sheetof diamagnetic material, such as brass or other suitable metal orcompound, the sheets being cut out and then bent or stamped in themanner shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The central bar 1 of the frame isprovided near its upper end with a pair of arms 2, bent rearwardly andthence inwardly to form attaching-feet having threaded openings for thereception -of securingscrews which pass through the casing of thetelephone. Below the arms 2 are a pair of rearwardiy-bent arms 4, havingopenings for the reception of the pivot pins or screws of of theselecting mechanism. The central porfor actuating the disk tion of themain bar is cut out to form a tongue 5, which is bent forwardly ataright angle, to the plane of the bar 1 and forms a support for some ofthe locking members. Near the lower end of the bar 1 are a pair offorwardly-bent arms 6, having suitable openings for the-reception of thepivot-pins of the locking and guard disks, and the extreme lower end ofthe main bar is bent forwardly to form a horizontally-disposed arm 7.

The arms 2 are provided with openings 8 for the'passage ofsecuring-screws, which extend into the cores of the electromagnets 9 andform the sole support for said electromagnets, and at the upper end ofthe main plate there is formed an opening 10 for the passage of asecuring-screw, by which the permanent magnet 11 is-secured in position.The outer ends of the cores of the 'electromagnets are connectedltoaplate 12, having suitable openings for the reception of the cores, andthe upper and lower ends of said plate are bent forwardlyto form a pairof cars or lugs 13, having threaded openings for the reception of thepivot-screw 14: of the polarized armature 15, said armature beingactuated in the usual manner and carrying a clapper-rod 16, having atits outer end a clapper or hammer 17, there being suitable openings inthe frame to permit the passage of the clapper-rod.v At the opposite endof the electromagnets is a softiron armature 19, supported onpivot-screws 20, passing through the threaded openings on therearwardly-bent arms 4, said armature being attracted each time themagnets are energized and being returned to initial position by a spring21 when the magnets are deenergized.

The clapper-rod is normally locked against movement by means ofa bar 22,pivoted on a pinion' 23 to the main arm 1 and having anupwardly-projecting tongue 24 passing through an opening 25 in the arm 5and engaging one' or other side of the clapper-rod and holding the sameagainst movement, so that while the electromagnet is energized each timeany subscriber on the party-line endeavors to call another subscriberthe armature will be held from movement and the clapperrod locked inposition by the tongue 24 until said tongue is released by the closingof the circuit for a predetermined number of times. The arm 22 isengaged and held in locking position by a catch 27 formed of a strip ofmetal having an integral counterbalance portion 28, normally holding thecatch in engaging position. This catch is pivoted on a pin 29 at oneside of the arm 5, and its engagement with the clapper-locking arm isautomatic, the clapperlocking arm being elevated to engaged position bythe inward movement of the lower end of the armature 19 each time theelectromagnets are deenergized, said armature having aninwardly-projecting finger 30 for engagement with the inner side of theclapperlocking arm. The arm 22 need only be elevated after an operationof the selecting device of which it forms a part, and while the finger30 comes into contact therewith at each movement of the soft-ironarmature the movement is only effected after the arm has been dropped toreleasing position. To permit the return movement, the under side of thecatch is curved or inclined, so that contact with the locking-arm servesto force the same upwardly until the arm reaches the locking position,after which the weight of the catch moves the latter .to lockingposition.

The locking-catch is released by means of a bell-crank lever 32, pivotednear the outer end of the arm 5 and having a horizontal arm extendingunder the concaved end of the catch and a vertical arm adapted to beengaged and moved to release the catch by a projecting pin on theguard-disk.

The lower arms 6 of the main frame have threaded openings for thepassage of pivotscrews, which engage the opposite ends of spindles and36, carrying,'respectively, the locking-disk 37 and guard-disk 38, andon each of the spindles is a light spiral spring 39, connected at oneend to the spindle and at the opposite end to a stationary pin 40,projecting from the frame, these springs serving to turn ent upon thenumber of the telephone.

the disks to an initial position after each operation of the selectingmechanism and, further, to act in connection with the armature to effecta rapid oscillatory movement of said guard-disk.

The locking-disk 37 is provided at one point in its periphery with anotch 42, which is adapted to receive the lower portion of theclapper-locking arm 22 when the notch has been moved to .a positionimmediately under said arm. The disk is further provided with a numberof peripherally disposed ratchetteeth 43, and within the line of teethis a row of openings 44 of a number equal to the number ofratchet-teeth, said openings being adapted for the reception of a pin45, carried by a radially-disposed arm 46, which is free to turn on thespindle 35 to any desired position and then locked by the engagement ofits pin in one of the openings 44. The extreme end of the arm 45 isprojected beyond the periphery of the locking-disk and forms anextension of the disk-tooth with which it is in alinement, and theposition of this arm and its tooth determines the number of times whichit is necessary to close the circuit to effeet a movement of thelocking-disk until the locking-arm 22 and the notch 42 are in alinement.The construction permits of the manufacture of the device bydie-stamping, each telephone on the line being provided with a similarmechanism and the arm 45 being adjusted at an angle from the notch 42,depend- The locking-disk receives a step-by-step rotative movement andis locked in position at each movement by a pivoted pawl 48, carried byone of the arms 5, and held in looking position by a spring 49.

The guard-disk 38 has a toothed periphery and is provided with twolaterally-projecting pins 50 and 51, disposed at different radialdistances from the center of rotation of said guard-disk. This diskreceives a comparatively rapid oscillatory movement, and at thebeginning of the movement the pin 51 moves from contact with the tailofthe pawl 48, which is normally held away from the locking-disk whenthe device is not in operation, and at the same time the pin 50 movesbeyond the lowerinclined end of the depending arm of the bell-cranklever 32 and is retained outside the arm until the locking-disk has beenmoved to releasing position, at which time the guard-disk will bereturned to its normal position by the spring 39, and the bell-cranklever will be moved in such manner as to raise the catch 27 and removethe same from the clapper-locking arm, and after this the pin 51 willmove to release the locking disk holdingpawl 48.

Secured to the lower end of the armature 19 is a pawl-bar 60, preferablyformed of a sheet of stamped metal having one end pivoted to IIO i thespiral spring 39; but before this position r the armature and maintainedin proper position by a spring 61, carried by the armature and extendinginside the bent portion of the pawl-bar. As a convenient means forholding the spring in position the armature stopscrew 62 is providedwith an auxiliary nut 63, which confines the spring in place and at thesame time acts as a jam-nut to hold the stopscrew in adjusted position.The pawl-bar carries two pawls 64 and 65, adapted, respectively, toengage the teeth of the locking and guard disks and is further providedwith a downwardl -bent inclined lug 67 which is adapted to engage withthe upper end of a screw 68 when the soft-iron armature is attracted andthe pawl-bar is moved outwardly. The screw 68 is carried by a threadedopening in the lower horizontal arm 7 of'the frame.

In the operation of the device, the parts being in the normal position,the electromagnets are alternately energized and deenergized, thecircuit being closed by the calling subscriber in accordance with thenumber of the selected telephone. The polarized armature and clapper-rodare locked by engagement with the tongue 24 of the arm 22 and cannotmove to sound the call-bells; but the soft-iron armature 19 is attractedeach time the electromagnets are energized and is released and restoredto normal position each time the magnets are deenergized. At the firstmovement of the pawl-bar the guard-disk 38 is rotated until the pins 50and 51 are moved to proper position, the pin 50 passing beyond thedepending arm of the bell-crank lever and the pin 51 being moved torelease the locking-disk holding-pawl. It will be noted that the lowerend of the depending arm of the bell-crank lever is inclined to permitthe free passage of the pin 50 when the guard-disk is actuated by thepawl-bar, and during this movement thehorizontal arm of the bell-cranklever swings from contact with the weighted arm of the catch 27 and thenreturns to initial position after the pin 50 passes, so that at thecompletion of the selecting movement the arm will be in position toreceive the impact of said pin and raise the catch from the locking-arm22. The further movement of the pawl-bar moves the pawl 64 intoengagement with the extended tooth of the arm 46 and the alining-toothof the locking-d isk and rotates the latter for an angular distanceequal to one tooth; As the pawlbar'is about completing its movement theinclined ing 67 engages the upper end of the screw 68 and forces saidpawl up against the locking-disk, preventing any further movement ofsaid locking-disk. At this time the outer pawl has moved from engagementwith the guard-disk, and the latter seeks to return to its initialposition under the impulse of can be assumed the electromagnets aredeenergized, the pawl-bar returned to its initial post tion, and themagnets reenergized fora second movement, the guard-disk being keptoscillating, while the locking-disk receives a steady step-by-stepmovement. To effect this result, the calling subscriber closes thecircuit rapidly for a number of times equal to the number of thesubscriber which he wishes to call, and the selecting devices on thewhole system are simultaneously operated. If the subscribers number be5, the circuit will be closed four times in rapid succession and at thefifth closing movement will be held closed for a short period of time.The notch 42 of the locking-disk of subscriber No. 5 after the fifthmovement Will-be directly under the lockingarm 22, while thecorresponding notches of the remaining subscribers are out of alinementwith thefrespective locking-arms. When the circuit is' maintainedclosed, the last movement holds the soft-iron armature against the polesof the latter, while the guard-disk being free from tial position by theaction of the spring 39. On the return movement of the guard-disk thepin 50 strikes the depending arm of the bellcrank lever 32, and raisesthe horizontal arm of said bellkcrank lever until the catch 27 moves outof engagement with the lockingarm 22 and permits the latter to fall intothe notch 42. The further movement of the guard-disk brings the pin 51into contact with the pawl 48 and moves the latter to releasingposition; but at this time the locking-disk is held partly by theengagement of the locking-arm 22 in the notch 42 and partly by thecontact of the pawl 64 with the teeth of the disk. As soon as the tongue24 of the locking-arm drbps the clapper-rod is released and thepolarized armature 15 is vibrated and rings the call-bell. When thecalling-circuit is again opened, the electromagnets will be deenergized,and the bell ceases to ring. At the same time the soft-iron armature 19is restored to its initial position by the spring 21,

the pawl is restored to its ini and the finger 30 elevates thelocking-arm 32 1. In a telephone selecting device, a toothed lockingdisk having a notch. a clapper-locking arm adapted to enter said notchto efiect the release of the clapper, a catch for holding said arm inlooking position, and a toothed guard-disk having means for releasingthe catch and permitting the locking-arm to enter said notch. 7 I

2. In a telephone selecting device, a pair of toothed disks, means forimparting a step-bystep movement to one disk and an oscillatory movementto the second disk, a locking-arm for engaging the clapper-rod of thetelephone call-bell, a catch for holding said locking-arm in position,and means carried by the oscillating disk for releasing said catch andpermitting the locking-arm to move from engagement with the clapper-rod.

3. A selecting system comprising electromagnets, a call-bell or alarm, aclapper-rod, an armature carrying the clapper-rod and adapted to beactuated by the electromagnets, a locking-arm for engaging and holdingthe clapper-rod in inoperative position, a lockingcatch adapted toengage the locking-arm, a toothed locking-disk having a notch for thereception of said arm, a guard-disk having means for effecting areleasing movement of the catch, and an electromechanical means forimparting a step-by-step movement to the locking-disk and an oscillatorymovement to the guard-disk.

4:. A selecting device comprising a toothed disk, an electromechanicalmeans for effecting a rapid oscillatory movement of said disk, aclapper-rod, a locking-arm for holding the clapper-rod in inoperativeposition, a counterweighted lever or catch normally maintaining thelocking-arm in clapper-rod-engaging position, a bell-crank lever formoving the catch to releasing position, and a pin carried by the diskand adapted to engage said bellcrank lever to effect a releasingmovement of the catch. i

5. In a telephone selecting device, an electromagnet, anelectromechanically actuated clapper rod, a clapper rod locking arm, anarmature for moving said arm to locking position, a catch for engagingand holding said arm, a pivoted bell-crank lever for moving the catch toreleasing position, a toothed disk having peripheral teeth, a pinprojecting from the disk and adapted to engage said bell-crank lever,and a pawl carried by said armature and engaging the teeth of the disk.

6'. A telephone selecting device comprising an electromagnet, anelectromechanically-actuated clapper-rod, a locking-armfor engaging theclapper-rod, an armature for moving said arm to locking position, acatch for maintaining the armin its locked position, and means operableby the movement of said armature for releasing said catch.

7. A telephone selecting device comprising an electromagnet, anelectromechanically-actu ated clapper-rod, a locking-arm adapted toengage said clapper-rod, a catch adapted to maintain thelocking-arm inclapper-rod-engaging position, a finger carried by the armature andadapted to move said arm to operative position, a locking-disk having anotch for the reception of said arm, peripheral teeth on the disk, aguard-disk having peripheral teeth, a pawl-bar carried by said armatureand provided with pawls for engaging the teeth of both disks and forimparting a step-by-step movement to the locking-disk and an oscillatorymovement to the guard-disk, a bell-crank lever having one arm adapted toengage the catch, a pin carried by the guard-disk for engaging with andmoving the bell-crank lever to effect a releasing movement of the catch,and pawls actuated by the armature for engaging with and rotating saiddisk.

8. A telephone selecting device comprising an electromagnet,anelectromechanically-actuated clapper-rod, a locking-lever for engagingthe clapper-rod, an armature for moving the locking-lever toclapper-rod-engaging position, a catch for holding the locking-lever inposition, a bell-crank lever having one arm disposed adjacent to thecatch, a locking-disk having a notch for the reception of thelocking-lever, peripheral teeth on said disk, a pawl pivoted on thefixed stud and engaging the teeth of the disk, a guard-disk having a pinfor engaging the bell-crank lever and a second pin for engagement withthe pawl, a pawl-bar carried by the armature and having pawls forengaging the teeth of both disks, and means for interlocking one of thepawls and the locking-disk at the completion of a single tooth movementof the latter.

9. In a device of the class specified, a supporting-frame formed of asingle piece of dia magnetic material having a plurality of arms bent toform supports for the various portions of the device, a pair ofelectromagnets carried by said frame, a plate carried at the oppositeends of the electromagnets, a polarized armature supported by saidplate; a clapperrod carried by the armature, a locking-arm pivoted tothe frame and serving to release and hold the clapper-rod in inoperativeposition, a soft-iron armature pivotally mounted on the frame at thatend of the electromagnet opposite the polarized armature, a pair oftoothed disks supported by the frame, a pawlbar carried by the soft-ironarmature and having pawls for engaging both disks, a notch formed in onedisk for the reception of the locking-arm, a catch for holding thelockingarm in clapper-rod-engaging position, a pivoted lever for movingthe catch to inoperative position, and a pin carried by the secondtoothed disk for engaging said pivoted lever, substantially asspecified.

10. The combination in a telephone selecting device, of a pair ofelectromagnets, a polarized armature disposed at one end thereof, meanscarried by said armature for e'fiecting the sounding of an alarm, asoft-iron arma ture arranged at the opposite ends of said electromagnetsand serving when attracted to bridge the magnet-cores for a moreeffective my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presenceoftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM D. WATKINS.

Witnesses:

WM. KEOST, W. H. BRUNDIDGE.

